"Being a teacher is not like any other career. It is something different. I bow to all the teachers. It is the teachers who make the generations," he said a day ahead of the Teachers' Day.

He said "a teacher can never retire" and added they have a great responsibility towards shaping the future of children. Modi said: "...you have seen (late former President A.P.J. Abdul) Kalam. He always wanted to be remembered as a teacher," he said.

"We pay tributes to (late President) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and mark his birthday as Teachers' Day," Modi said at a programme held here at Manekshaw centre.

The Prime Minister said: "Leadership quality is essential. You must also be clear why you want to be a leader: to fight elections only or to make a difference."

He also released a commemorative coin of Rs 125 denomination and a circulation coin of Rs 10 denomination in the honour of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President and educationist, teacher and philosopher, on the eve of his birth anniversary.